IAMC Newsletter May 2023 – IAMC Congressional Outreach; Q1 Report & Annual Convention
On behalf of the Indian American Muslim Council, we hope you are doing well.
The fight for our persecuted Muslim brothers and sisters never ends. Everyday there is a new challenge for them to tackle. Through our efforts of raising awareness in the U.S., we hope to bring them some relief.
Educating Indian immigrants in the U.S. and the diaspora is one of the proactive ways we are addressing the fight against Hindu extremism.
Congressional Briefings on Capitol Hill
Throughout the month of May, we held Congressional Briefings on Capitol Hill in Washington DC and in the Austin State Capitol in Texas. We also hosted programs with renowned Indian social activist and the present General Secretary of the Social Party, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, who is the recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Dr. Pandey visited several states, including North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as Washington D.C. He spoke about his work, the state of India’s political climate and religious minorities under the BJP, and the ways to counter the Hindu supremacist hate and bigotry.
Dr. Pandey also attended over a dozen meetings with U.S. Representatives, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. He met with several state representatives, including Darrel Issa, Andre Carson, Ilhan Omar, Marc Veasey, Julia Brownley, Lizzie Fletcher, Jim Clyburn, Brittany Petterson, Donald Norcross, Brad Schneider, Barbara Lee, Bill Foster, Mike Levin, Adam B. Schiff, and Al Green.
Pandey primarily spoke about democracy and human rights in India, outlined specific cases of students who have been arrested for protesting, and urged officials to take action against Modi’s upcoming visit to the U.S. in June.
IAMC Holds Congressional Briefings on State Capitols
U.S. officials gathered on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., and the Austin State Capitol in Congressional Briefings hosted by IAMC and our partners.
In D.C. the briefing on May 10th featured speeches by former USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza, Indian human rights activist Dr. Pandey, former U.S. Ambassador Islam Siddiqui, and Reverend Bryan Nerren, an American Christian pastor, who was imprisoned by the Indian government for seven months. IAMC, HFHR, and SALDEF representatives also spoke at the event.
IAMC Joins Celebration of South Asian American Advisory Council in Illinois
IAMC partnered with nine other Muslim, South Asian, and human rights groups to celebrate the establishment of the Illinois South Asian American Advisory Council. The Council was designed to advise the Governor and Illinois General Assembly on matters affecting South Asian Americans, immigrants, and refugees.
Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Ram Villivalam (1st Asian American in Illinois Senate) and Representative Mah (first Asian American elected to Illinois’ General Assembly) were honored for their leadership in continuing to push for equitable and just policies for our communities.
This implementation of the Council replaces what was originally SB093, The Illinois South Asian American Advisory, which included discriminatory language against Muslims. It stated “South Asian means a person descended from any of the countries of the South Asian subcontinent that are not primarily Muslim in character including India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.”
Upon pushback from a coalition of Muslim, South Asian, and Human rights groups including IAMC, Senator Ram Villivalam and Representative Theresa Mah fought against the bill to make it inclusive of all South Asians.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
IAMC & USCMO Advocacy Week on Capitol Hill
IAMC is joining the US Council on Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a national umbrella organization for Muslim advocacy institutions in the US for the 8th annual National Muslim Congressional Advocacy Days on Monday June 12th, and Tuesday June 13th at the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.
TAKE ACTION!
Sign the Petition:
Ask Biden to rescind State Dinner invitation to Narendra Modi due to India’s democratic backslide
We invite you to urge President Biden to revoke the invitation extended to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit to the White House next month. This request is based on India’s significant regression in upholding democratic principles and the alarming human rights violations against minority groups that have occurred under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
From IAMC’s Research and Documentation Desk
- IAMC Q1 Report: Persecution of Religious Minorities in India (Jan-March 2023) »
- Daily #IndiaPersecutionNews Updates »
- Weekly #IndiaPersecutionNews Video »
IAMC Media Department Updates
US State Department’s Damning Report on Persecution of Religious Minorities in India a step in the right direction, say Indian Americans
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has welcomed the release of the US State Department’s 2022 International Religious Freedom (IRF) report, which extensively highlights the ongoing persecution of religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians in India.
More
The Hindu: U.S. commission seeks sanctions on Indian agencies over ‘violation’ of religious freedom »
State Department: IAMC’s monthly reports mentioned in the State Department’s Annual International Religious Freedom Report »
The Red Flag: Albanese and the fascist »
Save the date!
IAMC National Convention
October 13-15
Plano Event Center
2000 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074
More details to follow!
IAMC हिंदी (Hindi Edition)
